Aims: The aims of this study were to describe pelvic organ support 6 months postpartum among women who delivered by cesarean section, spontaneous and instrumental vaginal delivery, and to evaluate the differences between the groups.
Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of 382 primigravid women who gave birth at Donostia Hospital during 2007. Pelvic organ support was explored 6 months postpartum using the pelvic organ prolapse quantification (POPQ) system. Joint hypermobility, height and weight were also assessed.
Results: POPQ stage ≥II was present in 7.7, 18.1 and 29.0% of women who delivered by cesarean section, spontaneous and instrumental vaginal delivery, respectively. Spontaneous vaginal delivery increased the risk by more than three times (OR 3.19; 95% CI 1.07-9.49) while instrumental vaginal delivery increased it more than fivefold (OR 5.52; 95% CI 1.79-17.30) in comparison with cesarean section. Instrument-assisted delivery did not increase the risk of prolapse in women who delivered vaginally.
Conclusions: Cesarean section is associated with a lower prevalence of pelvic organ prolapse after delivery. Instrument- assisted delivery is not associated with an increased risk of postpartum prolapse among women who delivered vaginally.
Copyright © 2011 S. Karger AG, Basel.